The Sutra of Nothingness

After listening to this lengthy sermon and warning, Shangguan Duo and his group were finally allowed to enter this mysterious and frightening mine.

When they actually walked into the mine, a cool breath hit them in the face. Although the environment here was not as humid as imagined, the eerie atmosphere was still there, as if an invisible hand was gently caressing everyone's back, making them gasp.

The entire mine seemed extremely dim, and everyone only held a weak blue phosphorescent lamp in their hands that could barely illuminate the way ahead. This little light seemed so small and fragile in the face of the endless darkness that it was impossible for people to see the surrounding situation clearly. What was even worse was that everyone's cultivation was deliberately suppressed, and even the slightest ability could not be exerted.

Shangguan Duo struggled to carry the heavy basket of ore, staggering and panting. He struggled forward, muttering: "Oh, I naively thought that since there were so many immortals living in the upper world, it must be a grand world full of joy and peace, and people would treat each other equally and live in harmony. Who would have thought that in the end there would be such a dark and dirty corner!"

Hearing Shangguan Duo's complaints, the little Ringwraith beside him couldn't hold back his contempt. He sneered mercilessly, "Humph, you are so simple-minded. You take things for granted! Haven't you heard of the saying 'the darkest place is the darkest'? The closer you are to the light, the clearer the boundary between black and white becomes. Add to that the effect of reflected light, and this kind of coexistence of light and darkness can be seen everywhere! So, don't always have unrealistic fantasies!"

"Kid, do you really want to keep pretending like this? I have already told you that the ascension passage from the lower world has been blocked by those powerful beings who possess the ability to reach the sky and the earth! Yet you are still talking nonsense to me here. You really don't know your place. With such little energy and time, you might as well speed up and catch up with us! You must know that this place is full of dangers. If you are not careful, a person with such low cultivation as you, even if not suppressed by any force, will probably be reduced to ashes in an instant, without a single bone left!" The old man had locked his attention on Shangguan Duo from the very beginning. Shangguan Duo was about to open his mouth to refute the little ring spirit beside him, but before he could say anything, he was suddenly named by the old man.

There was a loud bang, and Shangguan Duo was caught off guard, and his head hit a protruding boulder. The sudden impact was so powerful that Shangguan Duo felt dizzy and in unbearable pain, and tears burst out uncontrollably.

"Hahahaha...what do you think? I just reminded you to be careful, but you didn't listen. Now you've suffered a great loss! But you're lucky. This time you only hit an ordinary protruding rubble. If it were something more dangerous, such as rich fairy energy or ferocious and brutal fairy beasts, the consequences would be unimaginable! I'm afraid you can't even save your life!" Seeing this, the old man couldn't help laughing, and at the same time continued to tease Shangguan Duo.

"Shut up, you little mouths! If anyone dares to make any more noise, I'll make you clear the way!" At this moment, the noise they made attracted the attention of the leader. An angry shout was heard, followed by a powerful pressure that surged out like a tide, instantly covering Shangguan Duo and the old man.

Shangguan Duo felt his body suddenly shaken, as if struck by lightning, and he jumped up from the ground involuntarily. His face was pale, cold sweat dripped down his forehead, and his legs were shaking, and he could hardly stand steadily. The old man seemed to be cast under a spell, and he opened his mouth but could no longer make any sound.

"Hmph! Let me tell you, the place we are walking on is a relatively safe section that has been developed. However, in the second half, it will be entirely up to you to open up a path and find the way forward! Moreover, the immortal beasts that haunt this place are only the lowest-level immortal demon netherworld beasts, but don't forget that your current cultivation is greatly suppressed. With your current strength, if you are unfortunate enough to encounter these immortal demon netherworld beasts, you will have no choice but to wait for death! So, follow me closely, and don't leave at all! Everyone has only one precious life, don't expect those stingy mine doctors to be willing to waste precious resources to save you! I don't want to go back in disgrace and listen to other people's commands again because of you idiots!" After seeing that the rear had finally quieted down, the team leader 8537 slowly turned around and said coldly with a gloomy face.

Hearing this, Shangguan Duo's heart trembled, and a look of worry appeared on his face. After a long while, he came to his senses and asked the old man beside him in a low voice: "Old man, what did he mean by 'go back and listen to other people's instructions' just now?"

The old man frowned and looked at Shangguan Duo, who was covering his head and muttering something, with a look of disgust and impatience on his face. However, despite this, the old man finally decided to be patient and explain to this seemingly ignorant young man.

The old man cleared his throat and said slowly, "Team leaders like them usually take a look at who comes and then select the candidate directly. If all of their team members have not died, then when new members arrive in the future, they can put them into the team. But if all the team members unfortunately die, then these team leaders can only return to their original positions obediently."

After hearing what the old man said, Shangguan Duo couldn't help but blink his eyes and asked again with a puzzled look on his face: "Huh? Logically speaking, aren't they all from the underworld? Since we can still be recycled and used by them repeatedly after we die, shouldn't the more people who die, the better?"

Shangguan Duo's sudden question made the old man, who was originally quite calm, widen his eyes instantly, with a look of astonishment on his face. He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and responded unhappily: "In my opinion, you are the one who can be called the real destiny of the underworld! Besides, do you think this can be easily done just by saying it casually? The ability to control the soul is not something that ordinary people in the underworld can possess. They themselves are just ordinary souls!"